OPINION: Is it just me, or does anyone else want to race out and buy a nice, big delicious tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, just to let the State Government know how we feel about its bullying tactics?

Earlier this week state Environment Minister Andrew Powell urged a boycott of the brand because the product had the audacity to urge people to fight for the reef, using the slogan "Scoop ice cream, not the reef".

No doubt fearful the government's reputation was about to take a nosedive on Twitter, Mr Powell told the public Ben and Jerry's had damaged the reputation of the reef, thereby jeopardising jobs and tourism dollars.

Huh?

Surely the State and Federal Governments did more to harm the Great Barrier Reef by approving the dumping of three million cubic metres of dredge spoil in the marine park and World Heritage area to enable the Abbot Point coal port expansion.

Surely we, and businesses like Ben and Jerry's, are entitled to have our own opinion about the actions of our governments.

Apparently not. The State Government has referred the issue to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Premier Campbell Newman says the company's campaign is "misleading".

I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood for Vanilla Toffee Bar Crunch.